POLITICIANS and human rights campaigners yesterday launched a fresh attack on French President Jacques Chirac as he greeted his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe at a summit in Paris.

Mr Mugabe, who is accused of widespread human rights abuses against his own people, was welcomed to the three-day meeting of African leaders with a handshake from President Chirac.

The summit promises to strengthen French links with African nations, and delegates are expected to endorse Paris's stance on the Iraq crisis, calling for weapons inspectors to be given more time.

But the Conservative Party condemned President Chirac for shaking Mr Mugabe's "bloodied" hand.

British officials expressed doubts at claims that France could address Mr Mugabe's human rights record through face-to-face talks.

Protesters said they were told by police that all demonstrations on the streets of Paris had been banned.

Campaigner Peter Tatchell was arrested and questioned after planning to confront Mr Mugabe's motorcade as it neared the Foreign Affairs ministry at lunch time.

Some 52 African heads of state are attending the summit. But the talks threaten to be overshadowed by the attendance of Mr Mugabe, who stands accused of presiding over a reign of terror and deliberately starving millions of his own people.

One British official said, "Of course sometimes it is right to talk to people who are doing bad things if you think that will deliver the prospect of better things."

But he went on, "We don't think that talking to Robert Mugabe right now is going to deliver better things.

"We think the risk is that it will confirm him in his view that there is no problem and he can continue with policies that are damaging Zimbabwe and Africa."